Elastic artificial sking track



Sept. 2, 1941. M. HELLER ELASTIC ARTIFICIAL SKIING TRACK Fi led Feb. 18, 193.9

J0 fnmn 70/" Patented Sept. 2, 1941 ELASTIC ARTIFICIAL SKIING TRACK Maximilian Heller, London, England Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,094 In Great Britain May 6, 1938' 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an artificial skiing track for permitting skiing to be practised indoors or in the open air and throughout the year in any country independently of the climatic conditions. Hitherto all experiments with artificial sliding tracks intended to have properties similar to those of snow, have not proved successful for permanent use.

According to one feature of the invention the track comprises a coherent sliding surface of water-resistant nonrotting fibrous material on a solid substructure formed with gradients and provided with curved banked edges and nets for safety purposes.

According to the invention it is possible to use for teaching and practising skiing a wide track with varied ascending and descending slopes imitating a natural snow run, whilst a narrower sliding track with calculated and predetermined inclinations, if desired with interposed curves and fiat portions, is more suitable for popular amusement.

Various other features of the invention will appear from the accompanying drawing which illustrates by way of example different forms of embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective a ski track for popular amusement provided with different types of surface;

Fig. 2 shows in perspective a form of an artificial ski practice ground;

Fig. 3 is a section across a modified form of track.

In the drawing in which like reference numerals denote like parts, Fig. 1 shows a ski amusement track having an artificial sliding surface A which comprises gradients and curves and is provided according to the invention with banked edges I and safety nets 2 adjoining the edges, the mesh of said nets being sufficiently open to permit spectators outside the track to view the skiers, but just a little smaller than the width of the skis to prevent the skis from being wedged in the net. The net posts are bent outwardly so that the skis or skier cannot strike said posts and a resilient safety netting is provided at every point along the track. The sliding track A may comprise mats 5 placed on the solid substructure 3 and made of water-resistant and heat-resistant, non-rotting fibrous materials such as sisal, coir, fibris or the like, or of hair, and preferably coloured white so as visually to resemble snow. The mats may be impregnated with one or more substances for increasing their water resistance and slipperiness, for example wax of high melting point. The surface A may also be formed of fabric 6 such as tilts, coir or the like runners, carpet materials or fabrics.

To protect the skier from bodily injury the members forming the sliding surface may be mounted resiliently on the solid substructure 3 by providing resilient supports 4, which may be of rubber, gummed fibrous substances, hair or the like, or in the form of springs. The effect of a fall on the track may also be minimised by mounting themembers constituting the sliding surface on springs arranged at a suitable distance apart or by resiliently suspending the said members.

To ensure rapid drying after rain if the track is in the open air, in the substructure 3, in particular at the bottom of descending gradients, there may be provided openings 8 for the dis charge of rain water.

The track may be arranged in a descending spiral or superimposed convolutions of other form, for example figures of 8 or the like to give a long run within a small site, with, if desired,

interposed flat or ascending portions to make it necessary for the skier to exert a physical efiort over such portions. The track may be arranged in combination with a building or tower which may be provided with elevators or moving stairs or other means for transporting skiers from the bottom to the top of the track. The tower may serve as a support for the track or the latter may be supported by separate scaffolding.

Fig. 2 shows a ski practice track of construction similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but having varied ascending and descending gradients and intended more particularly for instructional purposes.

I claim:

1. An elastic skiing track of the character described comprising a solid substructure, a sliding surface composed of a non-rigid, coherent material and possessing a low coefiicient of friction, and resilient supports arranged between said substructure and said non-rigid sliding surface.

2. An elastic skiing track of the character described comprising a solid substructure, a sliding surface composed of a non-rigid, elastic, coherent material and having a low coeficient of friction, and resilient supports arranged between said substructure and said sliding surface, said resilient supports consisting of rubber.

3. An artificial skiing track of the character described comprising a solid substructure and a sliding surface composed of an elastic fibrous coherent material having a low coefiicient of friction, and a resilient support arranged between said substructure and said sliding surface.

MAXEMILIANI-IEILER. 

